Is a dental appliance feasible for very young children? Some orthodontists offer it from 3 years! But does your little one really need it and will he bear the constraints? The point on new techniques that take the wrong root.
Why a device for baby teeth?
Contrary to popular belief, the problems of alignment and malposition are rarely related to the teeth themselves, but to the imbalance of the bony bases that support the dental arches. Early orthodontic treatments therefore propose to correct these imbalances, sometimes as early as 3 years, so that they do not do too much damage.
Result: the device exerts a pressure on the temporary dentition, but its action is actually on bone growth. It will mostly correct small asymmetries (when the jaws are superimposed badly or the mandible deviates on the side). These asymmetries, which often go unnoticed, can eventually lead to facial disharmony and in some cases, imbalances in the scoliosis-type spine. Another mission: early treatment can counteract functional disorders, such as breathing through the mouth.
Dental device: in which case should we wait until 7-8 years old?
Early orthodontic treatment is a demanding treatment. It will only give results if your child accepts the constraints: wearing a quasi-permanent device, systematic brushing of the teeth (3 times a day), and regular visits to the orthodontist. Parent’s side, better to be available. The appliance should be frequently adjusted and washed thoroughly. If your child does not let go of his thumb or still does not dress alone, maybe it is better to wait a bit?
Which dental appliances are best?
In the vast majority of cases, orthodontists opt for a removable device that clips on teeth. Its assets: a quick pose (a few seconds), easy removal for the child, simple settings for parents, but most importantly, a device that does not hurt! Last find: some prosthetics make incrustations of images on the apparatus, at the level of the part which touches the palate (truck, doll, characters …). To optimize the results, the device can be completed at the end of treatment sessions with the speech therapist, in order to relearn to place his language well, or to chew on both sides in a balanced way.
Dental device: how long is the treatment?
The placement of a dental appliance in young children should not exceed 6 to 12 months. The results are fast on fabrics still soft and malleable. But beware, appointments are frequent and the renewal of devices is regular (every two months or so). The device is worn continuously, day and night. Your child only removes it to clean it with soap, to wash your teeth, and exceptionally to eat.
Can early treatment avoid fitting in adolescence?
Because they intervene upstream, early treatment can prevent problems that are often more difficult to manage during adolescence. In the absence of equipment during early childhood, the orthodontist then usually offers children 12-13 years, the installation of permanent rings (for a minimum of one year), sometimes painful early. Conclusion: offering dental screening to a child as young as 3 can limit the duration and the heaviness of the care that will be offered to him during adolescence, sometimes even dispense with it!
Dental device: what support does Social Security provide?
Social Security supports orthodontics for children under 16 years old. “It reimburses six semesters of care, consecutive or not,” says Vanessa Brennon communication department of the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM). The age of the child at the time of fitting the appliance does not matter.
However, early treatment must be short-term (up to one year), to allow the possibility of a new intervention in adolescence that can be reimbursed. Care such as equipment is taken into account at 100%, but capped. For a dysmorphosis, for example, the CNAM grants 193, 50 dollars per semester, and the overall treatment must not exceed the sum of 1,161 dollars .In case of exceeding of fees, it is necessary to count on his mutual.